Brush



April 1942- c. L. SNYDER 2,279,209

BRUSH Filed Jan. 31, 1940 INVENTOR. 640m 4. fi/vraae ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r 2,279,209 1 BRUSHCloyd L. Snyder, South Bend, Ind. 7 Application January 31, 1940, SerialNo. 316,485

' 4 Claims. (01. 15-460)v This invention relates to brushes, and has forits primary object the provision of a brush having portions thereofproviding both concave and convex brushing portions to effectivelycontact surfaces of many different contours.

A further object is to provide a brush having two end portions carriedby a handle and bent out of alinement with the handle, and an outercurved part connecting the first named brush parts and bent back towardthe handle.

A further object is to provide a brush having two portions projectingoutwardly from a handle, and an outer transverse portion bent out ofalinement with said first portions.

' A further object is to provide a brush which is so shaped that it maybe easily and conveniently used for many different purposes and onsurfaces of myriad forms and contours.

A further object is to provide a brush which is conveniently usable as abath brush, and which is particularly Well adapted for use as a footbrush.

A further object is to provide a brush having a handle which carries theopposite ends of a bristle carrying member bent into substantiallyY-shape.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of the preferred embodiment of the brush in sideelevation.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the brush.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the brush.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the bristle portion of the brush in slightlymodified form.

Fig. 5 is a View of a modified form of the brush in side elevation.

I Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another modified form of the brush.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 whichillustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0designates a handle of any convenient and suitable shape and form. Tothis handle is secured a brush preferably of the type having a twistedwire core ll carrying bristles [2 arranged in helical form around thecore I I to provide an elongated circular or cylindrical type of brushas well known in the art. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the opposite endportions 13 of the brush extend in parallel relation with the bristlesthereof substantially in contacting engagement. The free ends of thewires II are suitably secured to the handle ID as conventional in theart. Portions I3 preferably extend at an angle to the axis of the handleID as best illustrated in Fig. 2; Brush portions M are bentvfrom partsl3 at P5 to diverge outwardly from said parts l3. The brush parts I4preferably lie in aplane at an angle to the plane of the brush parts I3.The outer ends of portions M are bent at 16 in a small radius curve andare interconnected by a transverse brush portion I! which is bent on alarge radius curve. The bending of transverse portion I! is in thegeneral direction of the handle so that the outer edge of the brush as awhole is of concave form. Portion I1 is bent out of the plane of portionI4, however, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

An alternative form of the brush as illustrated in Fig. 4 involves thebending of the brush portions I 3 and M in a gradual continuous curvewith the transverse portion I! out of alinement therewith. The Fig. 4construction is otherwise of the same shape as that in Figs. 1 to 3.

It will be observed that the brush construction as aforesaid affordsconcave curves at l5 and I1, and convex curves at l6 which readilyaccommodate the brush to surfaces of many different contours. Thus wherethe brush is to be used as a bath brush, and more particularly as a footbrush, the curvature of these parts facilitates the use of the brusharound the ankles, between and beneath the toes, and at the instep, allof which portions of the foot are normally difficult to reach in bathingthe foot. The brush is .of particular value in this use by reason of thefact that in addition to being able to reach these particular points ofthe foot for effective cleaning, its use will also tend to stimulate theskin and thereby improve the skin tone and remove dead skin tissue andthe like. Still another advantage of the construction is that theparallel runs 13 of the brush may be used to reach the nail grooves, thecuticle grooves, the nail ledges beneath the outer edges of the nails,and other portions of the feet which are usually not accessible at allby any conventional washing member, such as a wash cloth or the like. Inthis connection it will be seen that each brush part [4 will seat in anail groove, or that one will seat in the cuticle groove while the otheracts under the nail ledges, so that each part l3 may serve both as aguide and as a working part for rapid and simultaneous cleaning of thesenormally inaccessible parts of the feet.

The bending of the brush portions l3 and I4 out of alinement with theaxis of the handle [0 obviously facilitates the use and manipulation ofthe brush without danger of striking the leg.

The bending of the portions ll of the brush out of alinement with theportions I4 with which it merges, is of particular value in reaching andbrushing the portions of the feet around the sole, heel and instep. Thissame bending of the brush at I! is also important when the brush is usedin bathing generally, since it enables the user to reach normallyinaccessible portions around the shoulder blades and the back.

The Fig. 5. embodiment is an alternative construction. havingsubstantially the same advantages as the preferred embodiment. This Fig.5 embodiment utilizes a handle 20 from which diverging end portions 2|and 22 of the brush project, said end portion 2| being of greater lengththan portion 22, and portion 22 being bent on a gradual curve at 23 toprovide 'a comparatively short part 24 which is bent at 25 on a veryshort radius, and which is connected with the bend 26=v at the outer endof brush part 2| by a curved outer or transverse .brush=part. 21' whosecurvature extendsin the. direction of the brush handle; This particularform of the brush is of especial advantage in cases where a recess orpocket is to be cleaned. The curvature at 25, together with the closespacing of the: parts 24 and 21, makeit possible: for the brush to entercomparatively narrowpockets- The. edge curvature of the Fig- 5-embodiment of the brush may be of the same shape as illustrated in Figs.2 and 4 hereinbefore described, although this shape need notbe followedin all instances.

The Fig, 6 embodiment of the brush comprises a handle 30 and anelongated brush element whose end portions 3| are connected to thehandle and diverge therefrom, the portions 3| being 'bent. at 32 andconnected by an intermediate transversebrush part 33 whose centralportion is bent back in the direction of} the handle. The edge view ofthis brush. may be the same as i1- lustratedinyli'i s. 2 and 4, althoughit will be understood that the brush maybe of} other edge configurationif. desired. This brush has the same advantages of providing, bothconvexbends 32 and, concave bends 33 which make the brush especially useablefor bath purposes.

While the use, of the: brush as a bath brush, and particularly as, afoot: brush, has been. em-

phas'ized herein, it will be understood that the brush is alsosusceptible of many other uses when made with bristles or fibers ofsuitable character. In thisconnection it will be observed that a brushof this type is readily useable as a clothes brush or when made instiffer and stronger material is useable as a brush for cleaningmachinery and the like, and I definitely contemplate as within the scopeof my invention, all uses for which the'brush-may beadapted, andfeasible.

I claim:

1. A brush comprising a handle, an elongated cylindrical brush elementhaving a substantially rigid core whose ends are secured to one end ofsaid handle, said brush element being bent to provide end portionsprojecting from said handle and a transverse portion between said endportions, at least the outer parts of said end portions. extending indiverging relation, said transverse portion being curved inwardly toprovide said brush element with a concave outer end merging withsaidendportions-by convex curves.

2. A brush as defined in claim 1', whereinsaid transverse brushportionisbent out of the plane of the opposite portions of said brush elements.

3. A brush. comprisinga handle and an elongated cylindrical brushelement, said element comprising end portions secured to one end of saidhandle and a. transverse outer portion, said brush portions merging incurved convex portions spaced from each other and from saidhandle, atleast one of said brush portions beingbent to provide a concave curvedperimetrical portion merging with at least one of said convex curvedportions and of larger radius than said convex curved portion.

4. A brush comprising a'handle, and an.elongated bent brush elementhaving its ends mount-.- ed on said handle in juxtaposed relation, theouter portion of said brush. element including a transversely extending,gradually inwardly curved portion merging with opposed end portions inshort radius curves, said transverse outer portion being bent out of theplane of the adjacent opposite portions ofthe brush. and said handlebeing angularly displaced from the brush portions.

. CLOYD L. SNYDER.

